The Ford Barn

rmax1953 · 08-05-2018, 12:02 PM

I want to convert my 53 f100 to 12 volts. What is the best way and where should I get the parts? I called Patricks and no recall . Are they out of the ford business?

cajunfirehawk · 08-05-2018, 01:50 PM

The prev owner used a Vintage Auto Garage kit, look here for yours
https://www.vintageautogarage.com/Fo...rts-s/2538.htm

51504bat · 08-05-2018, 06:25 PM

DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING FROM PATRICK'S. If you do you'll never see the parts and it will be the fight of your life to get your money back. Lots of postings over on the HAMB about Patrick's.

Tinker · 08-06-2018, 01:04 AM

not to hard to convert.

12v regulator
12v gen
12v bulbs.
Runtz for gauges.
Bubba for dizzy.

drolston · 08-07-2018, 11:35 AM

Starter will work on 12 volts, until you crank too long and it throws some solder, or the Bendix snaps. For $50 you can buy a rebuild 12v starter for a '63 Galaxy (FE engine) and swap the outside part with the field coils to your armature and ends.

Voltage reducer for heater and/or wiper motors.

Should also swap horn relay and starter solenoid to 12v equivalent parts.

rotorwrench · 08-07-2018, 05:35 PM

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The relays will likely work either way. Horns will be a harsh sound but will work. Most other accessories have been touched on. Alternators are kind of a pita to get a good install on a flathead but a later 12-volt generator field can be used to upgrade the 8BA generator and use a 3 pole 12-volt regulator from a 56 or newer car/truck.

Randy Rundle at 5th avenue internet garage specializes in 12-volt conversion parts & pieces. He has a good little book on the subject. All the bulbs sizes have 12-volt counterparts. Coil will need either a ballast or one that has the higher primary resistance to work with 12-volts.

It's all been done many a time.

Tinker · 08-07-2018, 09:35 PM

Yblock ceramic 12v to 6v reducer will also cover the coil. Common.

Yblock ford ignitions were 6v in the early yrs.

You can also use the same regulator and 4 pole solenoid as the early yblock fords.

****All ford. Probably some stuff up to and into FE motors can be adapted with a little or no work.

rotorwrench · 08-08-2018, 08:52 AM

The Y-block cars starting 12-volt in 1956 had a funky ballast resistor but any 1.3 to 1.5 ohm ballast resistor will work on an old style coil. Echlin still makes a good one.

08-05-2018, 12:02 PM	#1
rmax1953 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 4	12 volts I want to convert my 53 f100 to 12 volts. What is the best way and where should I get the parts? I called Patricks and no recall . Are they out of the ford business?

08-05-2018, 01:50 PM	#2
cajunfirehawk Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Ms GulfCoast Posts: 238	Re: 12 volts The prev owner used a Vintage Auto Garage kit, look here for yours https://www.vintageautogarage.com/Fo...rts-s/2538.htm __________________ Regards, Todd 1936 FORD Tudor Slantback "cajunhotrodder" on instagram/youtube Last edited by cajunfirehawk; 08-06-2018 at 05:15 AM.

08-05-2018, 06:25 PM	#3
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,020	Re: 12 volts DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING FROM PATRICK'S. If you do you'll never see the parts and it will be the fight of your life to get your money back. Lots of postings over on the HAMB about Patrick's. __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.

08-06-2018, 01:04 AM	#4
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: 12 volts not to hard to convert. 12v regulator 12v gen 12v bulbs. Runtz for gauges. Bubba for dizzy.

08-07-2018, 11:35 AM	#5
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: 12 volts Starter will work on 12 volts, until you crank too long and it throws some solder, or the Bendix snaps. For $50 you can buy a rebuild 12v starter for a '63 Galaxy (FE engine) and swap the outside part with the field coils to your armature and ends. Voltage reducer for heater and/or wiper motors. Should also swap horn relay and starter solenoid to 12v equivalent parts.

08-07-2018, 05:35 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: 12 volts Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The relays will likely work either way. Horns will be a harsh sound but will work. Most other accessories have been touched on. Alternators are kind of a pita to get a good install on a flathead but a later 12-volt generator field can be used to upgrade the 8BA generator and use a 3 pole 12-volt regulator from a 56 or newer car/truck. Randy Rundle at 5th avenue internet garage specializes in 12-volt conversion parts & pieces. He has a good little book on the subject. All the bulbs sizes have 12-volt counterparts. Coil will need either a ballast or one that has the higher primary resistance to work with 12-volts. It's all been done many a time.

08-07-2018, 09:35 PM	#7
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: 12 volts Yblock ceramic 12v to 6v reducer will also cover the coil. Common. Yblock ford ignitions were 6v in the early yrs. You can also use the same regulator and 4 pole solenoid as the early yblock fords. ***All ford. Probably some stuff up to and into FE motors can be adapted with a little or no work. Last edited by Tinker; 08-07-2018 at 10:10 PM.*

08-08-2018, 08:52 AM	#8
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: 12 volts The Y-block cars starting 12-volt in 1956 had a funky ballast resistor but any 1.3 to 1.5 ohm ballast resistor will work on an old style coil. Echlin still makes a good one.